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PART 1
PURPOSE
1. This consultation paper invites your views on the content of the 2007-13 Scotland Rural Development Programme ( SRDP). The SRDP will set Scottish Ministers' goals for sustainable rural development and the types of support that will be available to help achieve these goals over the next 7 years using European Union funds - particularly the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development ( EAFRD) - and co-funding from the Scottish Executive.
INTRODUCTION
2. We recently consulted on the strategic approach to the 2007-13 SRDP. That Strategy will form part of a UK National Strategy Plan which must be submitted to the European Commission ( EC) prior to submission of the 2007-13 SRDP in summer 2006. This second consultation focuses on the content of the SRDP including the mechanisms and agency arrangements to deliver funding.
3. The paper is structured as follows.
Part 1 provides a brief overview of the strategic context of the SRDP.
Part 2 sets out the schemes that we propose to use to implement the SRDP, including (in an annex) a list of proposed measures.
Part 3 gives information on how the Programme will be put into action.
4. This paper has been sent to organisations with an interest in rural communities, land-use, the environment and rural development. It is also available online at www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/.
5. Written responses to this consultation are invited by 27 June 2006, although you are encouraged to respond prior to this deadline if possible. You are invited to respond to the specific questions identified in this document, although we welcome comments on any further issues that you feel are important. Responses are requested in the order of the questions asked (although you do not have to answer all of them). Any additional comments can be made at the end of your response.
Written responses should be sent to:
Zoe Woods
Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department
Pentland House (Area 1E)
Robb's Loan
Edinburgh EH14 1TY
Electronic responses should be sent to RDProgramme@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Freedom of Information
6. The Scottish Executive intends to publish the responses to this document. Where respondents have given permission for their response to be made public, we intend to publish the name and address (or part of the address) of the author along with the response, as this gives credibility to the consultation exercise. It is therefore important that you let us know how you wish your response to be handled. If you do not wish to be identified as the author of your response, or do not wish your response to be published, please state this expressly in writing to us. We will regard your response as confidential, and we will treat it accordingly.
7. You should be aware that the Scottish Executive is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and would therefore have to consider any request made to it under the Act or the Regulations for information relating to responses made to this document.
Strategic Context
8. The strategic context for the 2007-13 SRDP is set out in the consultation paper on the strategic plan in Scotland. The paper presents the guiding principles that govern EU support for rural development, and the strategic outcomes and priorities that are desired in Scotland. A copy of the paper can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations although the consultation period is now closed.
9. The EU regulatory framework for supporting rural development between 2007 and 2013 is provided in the new Rural Development Regulation ( RDR) (1698/2005) and in the associated Transitional and Implementing Regulations that are currently in draft form. The RDR, and the funding that it provides through EAFRD, along with linked domestic funding, represent a significant incentive to achieve public policy goals, through land management and business and community development across rural Scotland. A copy of the Regulation can be found at: http://europa.eu.int.comm/agriculture/rur/index_en.htm.
10. The new Regulation emphasises the need for a strategic approach to the development of Rural Development Programmes ( RDPs). This approach will be essential to ensure that resources are spent most effectively and deliver public value. Our proposals for the SRDP are based on meeting strategic rural priorities in Scotland, as set out in the consultation on the Strategic Plan, and guided by the EU Strategic Guidelines on Rural Development. These guidelines state that the main principle behind rural development policy is to combine strong economic performance with sustainable use of natural resources. Member States are also required to ensure that their RDPs are designed in a way that is properly integrated with other domestic and EU funding programmes (i.e. Structural Fund and European Fisheries Fund programmes) and related domestic spending. The Strategic Guidelines can be found at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/capreform/rdguidelines/index_en.htm.
11. We have proposed three themes for the Strategic Plan in Scotland:
- Theme 1 - Underpinning performance and quality in the agriculture, food processing and forestry sectors
- Theme 2 - Enhancing rural landscapes and the natural heritage
- Theme 3 - Promoting a more diverse rural economy and thriving rural communities.
These themes are drawn from the strategic aims of the new RDR and are designed to address the priorities and challenges facing rural Scotland. They will contribute to Partnership Agreement commitments and address objectives in key strategic areas such as adding value in the rural economy, in particular agriculture and forestry, biodiversity, climate change, the water environment, animal health and welfare and community development and sustainability.
12. The recently published agriculture strategy ( A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture: Next Steps) emphasises the importance of Scottish agriculture contributing fully towards vibrant rural communities and stronger rural economies through sustainable diversification and continued engagement with the broad spectrum of local communities. It identifies 22 specific actions relating to food production and marketing, rural development, environment and communications. Further, a public consultation is underway at present on a revised Scottish Forestry Strategy which emphasises the central role of forests and woodlands in our culture, environment and economy. Where appropriate, actions from these strategies will be promoted through the SRDP.
Setting up Rural Development Programmes
13. Regulation 1698/2005 states that Rural Development Programmes for 2007-13 should be built around three thematic priorities or Axes. These Axes contain 42 'measures' ( see Annex A) which show the types of activity that may be funded using the EAFRD. The strategic guidelines indicate that there should be consistency and cohesion within and between the Axes. The measures can contribute to more than one Axis.
14. The three Axes are:
- Improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry by supporting the priorities of knowledge transfer, modernisation, innovation and quality in the food chain, and on priority sectors for investment in physical and human capital (Axis 1);
- Improving the environment and the countryside by supporting land management (Axis 2); and.
- Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification and growth of economic activity (Axis 3).
15. There is also a fourth Axis that uses the LEADER approach to deliver a locally-driven approach to innovation and development administered by local partnerships. Axis 4 can be delivered across any one or combination of the three main Axes.
16. The three Axes in the Regulation aim to deliver RDPs that balance wide-ranging objectives for rural development. Member States must allocate minimum proportions of EAFRD resources (including compulsory modulation) to each of the Axes, as follows:
- Axis 1 : 10%
- Axis 2 : 25%
- Axis 3 : 10%
- Axis 4 : 5% (within the minima for Axes 1-3)
These proportions must be borne in mind when considering the balance between different types of measures to be supported in the SRDP. Funding from the EAFRD must be matched by a contribution from national sources.
The distribution of funding between the Axes is shown below.
17. The EU rules require that RDPs are structured around sixteen chapters, set out in the Regulation. These include an overview of the Scottish strategic approach, Scotland's proposals for the use of Axes and measures, finance, complementarity with other funding streams and arrangements for monitoring and evaluation. A full breakdown of the information required within the Programme is set out in Annex B.
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